KAPEYA

By REBECCA MUSHOTA-
GOVERNMENT says Youth Day is an important and non-partisan platform for young people to have their voices heard in shaping Zambia’s future.
Chief Government spokesperson Mwansa Kapeya, who said this in a statement yesterday, advised youths across the country to turn up in large numbers and celebrate their day.
Mr Kapeya, who is Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said this year’s Youth Day was unique as it came at a time when Zambia was celebrating 50 years of independence.
“The Youth Day celebrations, therefore, among other attributes, provide an ideal opportunity for the youth of Zambia to recount the immense role and contribution they have made to the development of the country during the past 50 years,” Mr Kapeya said.
He said as Youth Day was celebrated, Government wanted to assure the youth that it had their interest at heart.
This, he said, could be seen in the many programmes and projects being implemented countrywide aimed at securing the future and role of youths in national development.
Mr Kapeya said the projects included construction of educational infrastructure and youth training centres.
He said in line with its party manifesto, Government had placed job creation as a priority so that youths could contribute meaningfully to the development of the country.
Mr Kapeya said under the leadership of President Michael Sata, Government would not relent in its agenda to provide a conducive environment for the growth and development of the Zambian youth.
And Youths for Transparency and Integrity (YTI) has said youths should gauge their relevance in national development.
YTI director Bright Muchimba said in a statement yesterday that young people should celebrate the day by reflecting on the value they had added and could still add to the economic, social and political growth of Zambia.
Mr Muchimba said the youth should not shun the celebrations despite the many difficulties they might have endured over the years due to the lack of employment and lack of adequate and effective youth empowerment programmes.
“Youths in this country must use this day to remind their leaders once again of these common challenges that have haunted them for as long as they have lived,” he said.